Catron County Probate Court
New Mexico Probate Court is a limited-jurisdiction court for informal and uncontested probate. In Catron County, the Probate Judge is Lucinda "Cindy" Howell. Probate packets name the contact block as Honorable Lucinda Howell, Catron County Probate Judge, 100 Main Street, PO Box 197, Reserve, NM 87830, office 575-533-6400, home 575-547-2331, and lucinda.howell@catroncountynm.gov. The county probate route is designed for estates where the appointment and administration are not contested.
The Catron County Probate Judge page is the county source for the local probate contact path.
That county page matters because Probate Court records and packets are not the same as ordinary District Court civil case files.
Catron County Probate Judge
100 Main Street
PO Box 197, Reserve, NM 87830
575-533-6400
lucinda.howell@catroncountynm.gov
District Court Fallback
Socorro District Court Clerk
200 Church Street, Socorro, NM 87801
575-835-0050 ext. 12
For contested estate cases and District Court probate filings
How Catron Probate Works
Catron probate packets provide a practical local workflow. A person reviews the packet or forms, makes an appointment with the judge, brings the death certificate, completes the listed forms, and pays the filing fee at the Clerk's Office. If approved, the applicant is appointed personal representative, and probate begins once that appointment is accepted. After appointment, the personal representative handles notices, creditor issues, inventory, accounting, debts, taxes, distribution, and any closing statement.
- Decide whether the estate is informal and uncontested or whether a dispute requires District Court.
- Review the will or no-will packet, then make an appointment with the Probate Judge.
- Bring the death certificate and completed initial forms to the appointment.
- Pay the $30 probate filing fee at the Clerk's Office and purchase the packet if needed.
- After appointment, send required notices, prepare inventory, address creditors, account for assets, and distribute the estate.
Note: Catron probate packets are for uncontested probate and recommend speaking with an attorney when questions or disputes arise.
Search Catron Probate Records
Catron County has a Tyler kiosk path labeled Probate Search. The search fields captured in the research include Recording Date Start, Recording Date End, Document Types, Use Advanced Name Searching, Search, Clear Selections, Back, and a help link. The kiosk notice says individual names should be entered Last First and that a broader search can use last name and first initial. The recorder document certification notice visible during research said recorder documents were certified from July 1, 1921 through June 18, 2026.
The Catron County Clerk Tyler Probate Search path is the local probate-search channel found in the research.
That search path is useful for probate-related county records, while contested probate litigation should be checked through District Court case tools.
| Field | Type | Use note |
|---|---|---|
| Recording Date Start | Date | Optional date range start in mm/dd/yyyy style. |
| Recording Date End | Date | Optional date range end. |
| Document Types | Autocomplete/text | Static options were not captured because the endpoint returned an error. |
| Use Advanced Name Searching | Checkbox | Enables advanced name operators. |
| Search | Button | Runs the selected probate search. |
Catron Probate Packet Forms
The with-will packet includes application, order, acceptance, and letters forms. Research also noted that one form label in the will packet appears inconsistent, listing Letters of Administration with a no-will label. The no-will packet includes an application for informal appointment and can include indigency/free-process forms. After appointment, forms may include notice of informal appointment, proof of notice, notice to creditors, inventory, and accounting.
| Form or step | What it does |
|---|---|
| Application for informal appointment | Asks the court to appoint a personal representative. |
| Acceptance of appointment | Confirms the personal representative accepts the role. |
| Notice of informal appointment | Sent to heirs within 30 days after appointment. |
| Notice to creditors | Sent to known creditors and may be published. |
| Inventory | Prepared within 90 days and provided to interested persons. |
| Accounting | Shows estate transactions with enough detail for interested parties. |
Catron County Probate Fees
Probate fees depend on whether the matter stays in Probate Court or moves into District Court. The county packet and fee schedule list probate docketing at $30 and the probate packet at $5. Seventh Judicial District filing fees list civil cases, including probate cases, at $132 when filed in District Court. Court copies and certifications use the district court copy schedule.
| Probate item | Amount | Source path |
|---|---|---|
| Probate docketing | $30 | County probate packet/fee schedule |
| Probate packet with or without will | $5 | County probate packet |
| District Court probate filing | $132 | Seventh Judicial District |
| Court photocopy | $0.35/page | Seventh Judicial District |
| Court certification | $1.50/pleading | Seventh Judicial District |
Catron Probate Record Terms
Probate records use terms that do not appear in ordinary civil or criminal case files. These terms help explain what a probate entry, packet, or court order means.
- Testator
- A person who died leaving a will.
- Personal representative
- The person appointed to administer the estate.
- Intestate
- A death without a valid will.
- Heir
- A person who may inherit under law or a will.
- Guardianship
- A court process for personal care decisions for another person.
- Conservatorship
- A court process for managing another person's finances.
These terms also help distinguish a Probate Court packet from a District Court estate dispute, where pleadings, hearings, and orders follow the broader court-record process.